David Roepke’s column on bypassing stereotypes with experience started out as an interesting piece. I expected Mr. Roepke to knock down stereotypes throughout his column.

While his conclusion was thoughtful, his comments about African Americans and urban life indicate this young man is in real need of some more life experiences.

To say that a group of people is more prone to crime because of the rate of incarceration begs the question.

Our war on drugs has focused at arresting the street-level dealer. We have been swamped with images of police sweeps through poor neighborhoods in cities, while much of the same criminal activity in more affluent suburban neighborhoods is ignored. I mention this because this war has filled jail cells with African Americans.

While the average profile of a person involved in drug-related criminal activities is a middle class white male, 24-40, from an affluent community, this person is four times less likely to be prosecuted and imprisoned than an African American male 18-30 from a poor neighborhood in a city.

I use the words “city” and “suburb” to avoid the code words Mr. Roepke tends to use. He uses these words, then proceeds to heap on stereotypes and lies such as “urban backgrounds that foster and promote illegal acts.”

Mr. Roekpe needs to understand that a ghetto is a socio-economic phenomenon, not a black thing. In words he may understand, there are ghettoes occupied by whites as well.

While Mr. Roepke’s conclusions are true, his “basic shreds of truth” indicate he hasn’t learned to see past stereotypes yet.

Keep trying Mr. Roepke, keep trying.

Richard W. Freeman

Instructor

Electrical and computer

engineering